Did Roger Goodell create a monster?

[djam]

I like the general idea of cleaning up the league, but I'm thinking that perhaps he would have been better off not to make it so public, and make take a different approach. This has created a media frenzy and scam-minded citizens are going to be all over it, imo. At the least, I wish he would be on it more and live up to his promises.

I mean, what's the deal with making a public example out of two players and letting others go so far? I am waiting and waiting to see him lay "his law" down on Joey Porter and Michael Vick, and others who have been in trouble. Untill he does, I will continue to disagree with his approach, as it seems biased and not very well planned. I welcome the crow on this one and I hope he lays it down soon because right now, I'm wating for someone to launch firerogergoodell.com.

People are freaking on Odell for getting a DUI (which is one of the most commonly committed crimes in America), when Porter was convicted of a violent crime, and Vick is in the middle of a felony investigation that involves the mutilation of animals, not too mention drugs being sold out of a home he owns. Where is their punishment? Where is Goodell now? If he doesn't live up to his mouth, I will be highly dissapointed.

[busamboy]

I like the general idea of cleaning up the league, but I'm thinking that perhaps he would have been better off not to make it so public, and make take a different approach. This has created a media frenzy and scam-minded citizens are going to be all over it, imo. At the least, I wish he would be on it more and live up to his promises.

I mean, what's the deal with making a public example out of two players and letting others go so far? I am waiting and waiting to see him lay "his law" down on Joey Porter and Michael Vick, and others who have been in trouble. Untill he does, I will continue to disagree with his approach, as it seems biased and not very well planned. I welcome the crow on this one and I hope he lays it down soon because right now, I'm wating for someone to launch firerogergoodell.com.

People are freaking on Odell for getting a DUI (which is one of the most commonly committed crimes in America), when Porter was convicted of a violent crime, and Vick is in the middle of a felony investigation that involves the mutilation of animals, not too mention drugs being sold out of a home he owns. Where is their punishment? Where is Goodell now? If he doesn't live up to his mouth, I will be highly dissapointed.

I agree with what you are saying, however, Goodell is still limited in what he can do as far as suspensions. I have seen reports that Goodell is making arrangements to meet with Porter soon. (as well as frostee) I think he and the policy is coming around. It was very important for him to improve the image of the league. Now with that said, he did create a monster because he gave the media something else to hang onto and to bring up players names every chance they get. If anybody has seen the PFT turd watch and how many days it has been since an nfl player has been arrested, it is kind of impressive right now (even though its only been 23 days, which is a lot it seems). The site goes on to mention that it was very hard to get the days without an arrest past 10 days for a long while. Now that goodell is cracking down on it, we are having less and less arrests. The media may be reporting them more, but the nfl is actually doing better on its arrests. Maybe, just maybe, the police officers are letting their hometown players get away with more because they don't want anybody on their favorite team to be suspended, but how ever it is happening, its working no matter how much player misconduct you see in the media.

[fredtoast]

GoOdell will get to these guys in time. He has already dealt with Tank Johnson. The key is that he is focusing on repeat offenders. Vick has done some embarrassing things at times, but I believe these are the first criminal charges that may arise against him. Also there is a lot of unresolved questions in the Vick case that we have to wait on. I'm sure Porter will get some kind of punishment, but again I don't believe that he is a repeat offender.

Also Odell was punished under the substance abuse policy, not under GoOdell's new policy regarding actions detremental to the league.

[bengalbuck11]

This whole thing is bad for the NFL, the players and the fans. Now poeple go to espn and nfl.com not to see who is being traded or who got cut, but to see who got arrested. This is becoming something I think the NFL didnt wont to happen. Yea it is good to crack down on players who think they can get away with anything cause they are famous, bu this is just getting way out of control. From now on every time any players name cause across the police blatter it is gonna get bigger head lines, then week 1 of the season. Just doesnt make sence.

[Buckeyehitman]

Right now a good amount of players have an elitist mentality. They think that because they're rich and they're well known, they can get away with anything. Kinda like Paris Hilton, only not quite as bad. If Goodell sticks to his guns, and the fans remain patient, then sooner or later the players will realize that this isn't the case. If we get one or two players with a lifetime ban, then you'll start seeing some of this mentality disappearing, because people don't want to lose their big paydays.

[djam]

It's a toughy. You guys are making sense though. I can see Goodell being a pretty busy man, and I'm sure he'll get to Porter eventually. Joey friggin Porter--GRR!! I hope he gets suspended. As far as Vick goes, I'm surprised he isnt in jail yet. It seems to me that the evidence that has already been told to the public is pretty clear, then you got friends of his saying he has been involved in it for years. He has already had some close calls, and like fredtoast said, just done a few stupid things that were more embarrasing than anything. I'm just curious to find out of Goodell will actually suspend the NFL's golden boy money maker.

I'm going to keep my faith up. If he is going to do this, I just want it to be fair, and as far as Pacman and Henry goes, they are both repeat offenders, so I guess it does make sense thinking of it like that. I'm sure he used them to send a message to an extent, but in reality, they were both in trouble mroe than anyone.

For the record, I'm a WVU grad and I met Adam Jones in person once at a bar, and he was very nice to me. I told him I like his playing style, and he said "thanks man, you going to the Miami game?" I said of course. He said "right on" and game me the knuckle tap. He had one run-in with the law in Morgantown, and it was a fight in a bar that I had seen a lot of other fights in during my time there. He broke a pool stick on someone but word is he didn't really start the fight. Henry never got in trouble with the law while at WVU, although he did make some fans mad. Rich Rod may have recreuited a couple troubled players, but they were on a pretty tight leash under him. Give them some cash and watch them mess up I guess.

[yorkshirebengal]

roger goodells mother and father created a monster not him!! haha

[notoriusdig]

GoOdell will get to these guys in time. He has already dealt with Tank Johnson. The key is that he is focusing on repeat offenders. Vick has done some embarrassing things at times, but I believe these are the first criminal charges that may arise against him. Also there is a lot of unresolved questions in the Vick case that we have to wait on. I'm sure Porter will get some kind of punishment, but again I don't believe that he is a repeat offender.

Also Odell was punished under the substance abuse policy, not under GoOdell's new policy regarding actions detremental to the league.

I have to disagree with this porter was convicted of two crime in the last two years and was involved with a fight with another employee of the NFL. Thats three violations of of the NFL code of conduct in the last three years.

[SnapCount80]

The only problem I see is Goodell is doing this alone. He should setup a small committee to assess and handle player misconduct issues.

[notoriusdig]

The only problem I see is Goodell is doing this alone. He should setup a small committee to assess and handle player misconduct issues.


That is a really good idea. I'm suprised i havent heard it mentioned before. It would definately make this process seem less tyrannical

[djam]

The only problem I see is Goodell is doing this alone. He should setup a small committee to assess and handle player misconduct issues.


No doubt, I like that idea a lot. I would not at all be surprised to see it come about.

[34inXXIII]

I'm not saying a committee would be a bad idea, but it comes right down to the fact that you just cannot please everyone. A committee would just give those people more targets for their scorn. Even so, it would still be Goodell that would receive the brunt of it as the face of the new plan. It's unfortunate, but a position Goodell seems strong enough to handle. We're not dealing with a Selig-type commissioner here. Goodell is at least making a concious effort to make a positive change to a significantly negative scenario his league faces. Even when he hands out some of the NFL's lengthiest suspensions to a few of the league's worst offenders of the conduct policy, he's criticized over minor details instead of praised for the overall work that's being done.

Some people are just unrealistic (and some are ridiculously unrealistic). Such people complained incessantly about Goodell not making a decision on Tank Johnson, then criticized him some more when Johnson was suspended for half of a season. Some expect the commissioner to come down hard and fast on everyone who allegedly runs afoul of the law. Some are calling for him to drop the hammer on Porter and Vick immediately. Now Porter's judgment day is coming, just as Johnson's eventually came as well. However, anyone who insists Goodell should act on Vick now - before any charges have even been filed - prove just how unrealistic the expectations are upon this commissioner in his effort to clean up the image of this league. A decision on Vick may very well become the defining moment for this policy and this commissioner, but it needs to be handled appropriately. Therefore, Vick's issues must be settled through the legal system before Goodell can even begin to act.

[SnapCount80]

I'm not saying a committee would be a bad idea, but it comes right down to the fact that you just cannot please everyone. A committee would just give those people more targets for their scorn. Even so, it would still be Goodell that would receive the brunt of it as the face of the new plan. It's unfortunate, but a position Goodell seems strong enough to handle. We're not dealing with a Selig-type commissioner here. Goodell is at least making a concious effort to make a positive change to a significantly negative scenario his league faces. Even when he hands out some of the NFL's lengthiest suspensions to a few of the league's worst offenders of the conduct policy, he's criticized over minor details instead of praised for the overall work that's being done.

Some people are just unrealistic (and some are ridiculously unrealistic). Such people complained incessantly about Goodell not making a decision on Tank Johnson, then criticized him some more when Johnson was suspended for half of a season. Some expect the commissioner to come down hard and fast on everyone who allegedly runs afoul of the law. Some are calling for him to drop the hammer on Porter and Vick immediately. Now Porter's judgment day is coming, just as Johnson's eventually came as well. However, anyone who insists Goodell should act on Vick now - before any charges have even been filed - prove just how unrealistic the expectations are upon this commissioner in his effort to clean up the image of this league. A decision on Vick may very well become the defining moment for this policy and this commissioner, but it needs to be handled appropriately. Therefore, Vick's issues must be settled through the legal system before Goodell can even begin to act.

I hear you.

My concern was that Goodell might get stretched too thin and potentially make some "bad" decisions on his own. If he sets up a commitee, at least he would have some help... which would seem like a good idea given the number of arrests that continue to manifest. I believe in what he is trying to do, but I don't want his other duties to become neglected in light of the increasingly overwhelming burden of his new league-wide daddy daycare.

[djam]

I'm not saying a committee would be a bad idea, but it comes right down to the fact that you just cannot please everyone. A committee would just give those people more targets for their scorn. Even so, it would still be Goodell that would receive the brunt of it as the face of the new plan. It's unfortunate, but a position Goodell seems strong enough to handle. We're not dealing with a Selig-type commissioner here. Goodell is at least making a concious effort to make a positive change to a significantly negative scenario his league faces. Even when he hands out some of the NFL's lengthiest suspensions to a few of the league's worst offenders of the conduct policy, he's criticized over minor details instead of praised for the overall work that's being done.

Some people are just unrealistic (and some are ridiculously unrealistic). Such people complained incessantly about Goodell not making a decision on Tank Johnson, then criticized him some more when Johnson was suspended for half of a season. Some expect the commissioner to come down hard and fast on everyone who allegedly runs afoul of the law. Some are calling for him to drop the hammer on Porter and Vick immediately. Now Porter's judgment day is coming, just as Johnson's eventually came as well. However, anyone who insists Goodell should act on Vick now - before any charges have even been filed - prove just how unrealistic the expectations are upon this commissioner in his effort to clean up the image of this league. A decision on Vick may very well become the defining moment for this policy and this commissioner, but it needs to be handled appropriately. Therefore, Vick's issues must be settled through the legal system before Goodell can even begin to act.


First off I don't think any fan has a place to insist anything, and I haven't seen it at all. Second, unrealistic? Whatever. I am pretty sure Pacman hadn't been through the legal system yet and hadn't been convicted of anything before he was suspended. He had had mutiple 'run-ins" but no charges or convictions. It was a few months after he was suspended for a year before we even knew if he would be facing actual charges or not. I thought Goodell made it clear that there doesn't "have" to be a conviction to react. Any player that has run-ins (plural) with the law and attracts bad media is subject to his law, which is why I think Vick should be a candidate to be suspended. Porter was convicted of a violent crime against another NFL player. Goodell reacted quickly on Henry and Pacman to send a message. I think he'll get around to the others, but Pacman's lawyer had a good point to think that he was used to be an example. So far it does seem like that is the case.

[Joey]

As far as people making up false claims against players, I think the NFL needs to drop an iron fist on a couple of these con artists.

Soon as they get a case where a person is obviously making up false claims/police reports to try and shake down a player, the NFL hierarchy needs to step in and drop the hammer on thier butt!!! Oh, you want to bring up a false claim against an NFL player... Uh-OH!!! You now have a lawsuit against the NFL for defamation... Ouch!!! Bye, bye possesions, hello lawyer costs! So long scammers!

The NFL needs to wipe a couple of these punks out to send a clear message that unless your claim is true you better not mess with anyone in the NFL. Then they can give all the meager possesion they win running these punks up a rail to Good Will;)

Sounds good to me!

[djam]

As far as people making up false claims against players, I think the NFL needs to drop an iron fist on a couple of these con artists.

Soon as they get a case where a person is obviously making up false claims/police reports to try and shake down a player, the NFL hierarchy needs to step in and drop the hammer on thier butt!!! Oh, you want to bring up a false claim against an NFL player... Uh-OH!!! You now have a lawsuit against the NFL for defamation... Ouch!!! Bye, bye possesions, hello lawyer costs! So long scammers!

The NFL needs to wipe a couple of these punks out to send a clear message that unless your claim is true you better not mess with anyone in the NFL. Then they can give all the meager possesion they win running these punks up a rail to Good Will;)

Sounds good to me!


That would be great if they could do it. How about that girl who filed rape charges against Henry? It was thrown out of court when she got arrested for shotting someone, and the truth came out that she had been trying to scam other pro athletes.